If the first can of soda yields 18 units of utility and the second yields an additional 12 units, what is the marginal utility of the third soda if total utility is 38 units?

To find the marginal utility of the third soda, you first need to understand that marginal utility refers to the additional satisfaction or utility gained from consuming one more unit of a good or service. You can calculate the marginal utility for the third soda by comparing the total utility after consuming the third soda to the total utility from consuming the first two sodas.

You are given the following information:

• The total utility gained from the first can of soda is 18 units.
• The total utility gained from the second can of soda is the additional 12 units, making the total utility after two sodas 30 units (18 + 12).
• The total utility after consuming the third soda is stated to be 38 units.

To find the marginal utility of the third soda, you subtract the total utility of the first two sodas from the total utility after consuming the third soda:

Marginal Utility of the third soda = Total Utility after three sodas - Total Utility after two sodas = 38 units - 30 units = 8 units of utility.

Thus, the marginal utility of the third soda is 8 units. This calculation emphasizes the concept that marginal utility measures the increase in utility as one more unit is consumed, providing insight into